One of the most bizarre stories in MMA history centres around an iconic actor and martial artist.
On Saturday night, Charles Oliveira will look to add to his already impressive list of records when he returns at UFC Rio.
The former lightweight champion has already carved out an incredible legacy in the UFC.
In fact, some of the most legendary fighters of all time have represented Brazil inside the Octagon, with the country’s athletes continuing to achieve success in MMA.
Two of Brazil’s greatest fighters hold similar iconic knockouts, though there is someone who claims that he taught them this signature technique.
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Steven Seagal claimed that he taught Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida the front kick technique
If you watch a highlight reel of the greatest knockouts of all time, you’re sure to see two finishes that were delivered by Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida.
At UFC 126 in 2011, Silva front kicked Vitor Belfort in the face to add to his legendary middleweight title run that would continue for another two years.
His fellow Brazilian replicated this just two months later at UFC 129, with Machida retiring Randy Couture by landing a very similar front kick.
The two legends shared another similarity in that they had trained around this time alongside martial artist and action movie star Steven Seagal.
As well as being a 7th-dan black belt in Aikikai aikido, Seagal is listed as being an actor, writer, musician, producer and Tibetan lama.
Seagal, who had claimed that he considered Silva and Machida to be his sons, also stated that he taught both men this front kick technique, which seems unlikely given their striking backgrounds.
The enigmatic martial artist told Karyn Bryant in an interview for MMA H.E.A.T immediately after Silva’s win that the fight had gone exactly how he had planned.
“I’m happy because right before he walked out I said, ‘Stay away from him for the first two-three minutes, get him frustrated and then fake low and come high and do that kick that I’ve been teaching you and kick him in the head or the face and he did exactly what I said and exactly what I wanted to happen happened.”
Seagal stated this again during a 2012 appearance on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ where he was asked about training UFC fighters.
“I am teaching Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida. I show them a lot. Not everything I know… There is a signature kick that I’ve taught them that they’ve knocked champions out with and won world championships with.”
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Anderson Silva disputed Steven Seagal’s influence on his career and front kick KO
Steven Seagal has occasionally appeared at UFC events, and was seen training alongside Alex Pereira in a video posted by the light heavyweight champion in March of 2024.
Despite this, since the former actor’s comments on the work that he did with Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida, it seems like some of his claims have been denied.
“Steven Seagal is a good man,” Silva responded when he was asked in a 2013 interview about Seagal’s involvement in his training. “There’s no coach, no train me, but this is a good man. A good person. That’s it.”
Silva was then specifically asked about the front kick in particular and what he made of Seagal claiming that he taught ‘The Spider’ this technique.
“I train the front kick for a long time. I started training martial a long time ago. Steven Seagal showed me the movement, the little movement, but don’t cheat me on this kick because I working hard for this kick for a long time in my life.”